Device for teaching golf swing



Aug. 24 1926.

O. H. BURGOYNE ET AL DEVICE FOR TEACHING GOLF SWING Filed fifiril 27, 1926 OJZBZZ I/e M321 1 gum mien I I a Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER HAWKINS BURGOYNE AND WILLIAM BAILEY PRICE, OF DALLAS, TEXAS.

DEVICE FOR TEACHING GOLF SWING.

Application filed April 27, 1926. Serial No. 104,989.

This invention relates to an apparatus designed for use by golf instructors or players to facilitate the teaching or learning of the proper swing necessary to carry out a perfect golf shot An important object of the invention is to provide a mechanical means for'registering the actual swing of the club, as well as indicating whether the follow through of the stroke has been properly executed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means for indicating when the downstroke of the golf swing has been properly executed.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may bem ade within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of an apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a sectional "view through the apparatus taken on line 83 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a sectional View taken 55 of Figure 2. a 7

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device includes an elongated base indicated generally by the reference character 5, which base is provided with pairs of spaced openings 6 disposed adjacent to the side edges of the base as clearly shown by Figure 2 of the drawing. 7

Supports 7 form an important feature of the invention and are in the form of wire wickets, the ends thereof being designed for positioning in the openings 6 in a manner as shown by Figure 2, so that the supports may be held in upright positions at all times.

Mounted on the supports are pivoted fingers 8, one of the supports carrying a single finger as shown by Figure 3, while the opposite support carries a pair of fingers 9 and 10 respectively, for purposes to be hereinafter more fully described, and as shown on line the fingers 9 and 10'are adapted to beused in spaced relation with each other.

Each finger embodies a securing member 11 formed with an opening to be positioned other resilient member 12, the opposite end of the coiled spring or resilient member, being formed with an eye 13 to be positioned around the adjacent leg of the support in a manner as shown by Figure 4.

Secured to the wire or resilient member is a bell indicated at 14, which bell is adapted to sound an alarm when the finger connected wit-h the spring, is moved by the force of a golf club in the hands of the person using the apparatus.

The fingers 9 and 10 are arranged in spaced relation with each other, the bottom finger being shorter, is the follow through finger to be struck by the head of the chib when a proper follow through at the end of the golf swing has been executed, while the finger 9 which is positioned thereabove, will be missed by the club during the erecution of a stroke indicating that the club has not been pulled up and a proper follow through swing has taken place.

At one end of the body portion 5 is a recess 15 adapted to receive powdered chalk or the like, in which the ball may be rubbed to whiten the ball so that as the ball is struck, a mark will be left on the club face indicating the exact point on the club struck by the ball so that the instructor or pupil may determine if the ball has been properly hit. In the use of the device, the supports 7 are properly adjusted with respect to each other, due consideration being given to the height and size of the person to be instructed by the apparatus whichcontrols the adjusting of the supports 7.

The ball which for the sake of illustration is indicated by the reference character 16 is teed up between the supports in a manner as shown by Figure 1, whereupon the scholar takes his'st-ance before the golf ball. The club is now brought back belit) neath the finger 8 and swung downwardly slowly missing the finger 8 in the swing and bringing the club forward striking linger with the club head and passing beneath finger 9 not hitting same.

' Should the scholar miss the finger 10 or hit 8 or 9 it will be obvious that a proper swing has not been executed, and he may by changing his stance and altering his swing, finally take a stance which 'will insure his executing a proper golf stroke.

After the stroke, has been practiced, in a manner as above outlined, it will be obvious that the swing will be automatic, and the player may with a degree of accuracy hit the golf ball for a perfect stroke.

' We claim:

1,. An apparatus of the class described including a base having pairs of spaced openings arranged in the upper surface thereof, supporting members removably mounted within the openings, said supporting members adapted to be arranged in spaced relation with each other, pivoted fingers carried by the supportin members, and said pivoted fingers adapted to be arranged within the path of travel of or above, a golf club in making a stroke with the club.

2. An apparatus of the class described, including a base, supporting members removably mounted on the base, pivoted fingers carried by the supporting members, means actuated by the fingers for sounding a signal, and said fingers adapted to be positioned in the path of travel of or above, a golf-- club in making a. stroke with the club.

3. An apparatus of the class described including a base, pivoted fingers supported above the base, said fingers adapted to be struck by a golf club in making a golf stroke with the club, and indicating means carried by the fingers for causing a signal to be sounded when. the fingers are struck.

4:. An apparatus of the class described, comprising a base, removable supporting members on the base, fingers carried by the supporting members and adapted to be adjusted vertically with respect to the supporting members, said fingers adapted to be positioned in the path of travel of or above, a golf club in passing the golf club in front of the user in making a golf stroke, and an indicating member carried by the fingers and controlled by the movements of the fingers.

An apparatus of the class described, including supports, fingers pivotallymounted on the supports and adapted to operate in horizontal planes, said fingers adapted to be arranged within the path of travel of cr above, a golfclub in making a golf stroke, and indicating means actuated; by the lingers.

(3. An apparatus of the class described, including supporting members, each ofsaid supporting members embodying a pair of leg members, a fingerpivotally mounted on one of the leg members, a coiled spring attached to the finger, saidcoiled spring having its opposite end connected with the opposite leg member to return the finger to its normal position, and a signaling device carried by the spring member.

7. An apparatus of the class described, including a supporting member, vertically adjustable fingers on the supporting member, meansv for pivotally mounting the fingers, said fingers adapted to. bedisposed in the path of travel of or. above a golf club in making a golf swing, and a signaling eevice actuated by the finger when the fin ger is struck by. the golf club.

In testimonythatwe claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto affixed OlllTSlgllEt:

tures.

OLIVER HAWKINS BUBGoXNE. WILLIAM BAILEY aton 

